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BONUS SCENE

ALANA

“I love our daughter, Keller, but she wears me out,” I say to my husband, handing him a drink and pouring one for myself.

It’s the dog days of summer, and keeping an eight-year-old boy busy is easy peasy.

Our three-year-old daughter, Avery, on the other hand.

Well, I’m being run through the wringer.

She has boundless amounts of energy, says the most outlandish things with a smile, and then the minute you turn your back, she’s into some sort of mischief.

“I can’t say that I’m surprised. Ave's has more energy than Jace has ever had. He’s also the oldest out of the two, even with the age difference, he’s always been pretty laid back.

” I settle in on the outdoor couch, my back to the armrest, getting a clear view of our children.

Yes, ours, even though biologically Jace isn’t mine, in every other sense of the word, he’s mine.

He’ll even correct someone if they happen to slip a step anywhere near Mom.

“She gets it from you. I mean, seriously, you work all day, in the heat nine times out of ten, come home, and don’t sit still.

Today, you “I can teach a class full of twenty or so kindergarteners, but your daughter is giving me a run for my money,” I tell Keller.

We’re sitting on the patio watching Jace run in the yard, and his sister, Avery, chases after him.

The age difference is nearly six years between the two of them, and still, Jace, being the big brother he is, doesn’t bat an eye when his little sister asks him to play with him.

Sometimes it’s tag, sometimes it’s playing in the pool, and sometimes it’s a puzzle inside.

Tonight, it happens to be Avery chasing after him with a frog in her hand, Jace isn’t scared of the amphibian, not in the least. It’s more along the lines that Ave’s we’ll eventually let the frog go back to its home beneath the rocks in the garden, and soon enough she’ll find the water hose.

Sadly, he knows her well enough that she’ll squirt everyone in her path.

“I don’t have any idea what you’re talking about,” Keller gives me a look. One that’s mischievous and a lot like our little girls. My husband wedges his bottle of beer between his hip and the arm of the couch, grabs my feet, and places them on his lap.

“We’ll see about that when she comes after us when Jace is ready for a break.” Kell’s hands go about massaging my foot, my eyes close, and I enjoy the moment. His thumb works the instep, and I’m letting out a sigh as my body goes into a full-blown shiver.

“I’ll take care of our girl, don’t you worry about that.

Enjoy your evening, gorgeous.” When he says it like that, I’m more than willing to let him take over.

It’s summer, and both kids are with me day in and day out.

I don’t begrudge being fortunate enough to have them at home, but I am tired.

When I’m teaching, Avery goes to day care a few days a week, and the other days she’ll cycle through our family.

“I’ll do exactly that,” I say on a moan when his hand travels up the back of my leg.

“Alana,” my eyes find his, and this time it’s me giving him a smirk.

“Yes, honey?” I’m teasing him and he’s enjoying every moment of it.

“Mom! Dad!” Our moment is broken with Jace’s voice. Avery’s giggles follow suit.

“What’s up, bud?” Keller goes into dad mode, making me burn all the hotter.

“I’m going inside to take a shower. The frog peed on Ave’s hand, and she’s trying to wipe it on me.” I go to slide my feet off Keller’s lap, but he holds them still and continues to massage one before the other.

“Go on in, I’ll keep your sister out of your hair.”

“Thanks, Dad. Mom, do you think we can watch a movie and have popcorn?” Jace may be growing up faster than any of us want, yet there are still these moments where he’s a boy.

“Of course, you pick the movie, and I’ll get the living room ready.” The glass of wine I have in my hand may make it impossible to keep my eyes open through the film, depending on what he chooses.

“Cool, Pirates of the Caribbean, okay?” I nod my response. It seems like this might become an annual summer tradition. Last year, every time it was his turn to pick a movie, it’d be the same, and we’d work through the entire series.

“You’re gonna sit here, enjoy your wine, I’m going to get our girl, put her in the bath, and set up the living room,” Keller states when Jace moves through the door. Avery is heading our way, laughing a mile a minute.

“How about you take care of Avery, I’ll set up the living room, that way the sooner our babies conk out, the sooner we can enjoy each other?” I suggest.

“That sounds like a damn good idea.” Keller stands up, grabs his beer, and places my feet on the couch.

I’m left with the view of him walking toward Avery in nothing but a pair of faded jeans.

My eyes follow him the entire time, as he drops down in a hunch, Ave’s loops her arms around his neck, laughing a mile a minute because she’s got her daddy, hook, line, and sinker.

I scrunch my nose. She’s not the only one who’s going to need a bath.

Especially when Keller realizes the wetness on her hands is from frog pee.

This is life, and I wouldn’t change a single thing in the world.